Sprint and the NBA announced a multiyear marketing partnership that will make The Now Network the “Official Wireless Service Partner of the NBA,” as it takes the reigns over from T-Mobile. Sprint believes this deal will be successful in reaching the NBA’s fan base through league events, TV and digital exposure, and customized NBA mobile content.

The partnership will usher in a new custom app, called Sprint NBA Mobile. The app will lets fans follow their favorite teams and players, and once the games tip off Christmas Day the app will roll out in the Android Market. Key features of this new Sprint NBA Mobile app include:

In-game and post-game video highlights

Live home and away radio broadcasts for all games

News, scores, stats and real-time play-by-play for all games

Access to live ESPN NBA Games via Sprint TV’s ESPN

This app reminds me of the Game-Time app, as it offers a lot of the same type of features. What I like most about this partnership is not only do Sprint subscribers get this thing at no additional cost with unlimited usage (for customers with an Everything Data Plan only), but a 20 percent discount on the League Pass (mobile version) – sweet, ha?

Now that Sprint’s doing business with the national b-ball association, get ready to see the service provider all over everything NBA related the All-Star week, Inside the NBA (my personal fave) and more. Boy, I can’t wait until the season begins, as a Sprint customer I think I’ll have to take advantage of this 20 percent off deal.